Improvement in razor-strops



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED F. OI-IATMAN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

IM PROVEM ENT IN RAZOR-STROPS'.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 10,028, dated September 20, 1853.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be `it known that I, ALFRED F. CHATMAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a new and useful Improvement in Strops for Razors, which I verily believe has not been previously known; and I do hereby declare that the following' is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to t-he annexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is a plan of the case and the strop partly drawn out. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the metallic renovator for the surface of the strop.

The like marks designate the same parts.

A is part of a table, or may be the back of a barbers chair or other place to which the case ct is attached by means of screws, as shown. This case a contains the strop and parts that operate on the strop, and is formed, as shown, with heads b,'one of which is made so as to screw into the case. In the center of these heads is a spindle l, with a square on one end entering the fixed head, so as to be retained firmly in place. Around this spindle l is a spiral or scroll spring c,

one end attached to the spindle, the other to a barrel d, that sets between the heads 7o.

e is the strop of leather, attached by screws 2 to the barrel d'. The other end of the strop is passed out by a mouth at 3 and termi' nated with an ornamental end f, against which the strop is secured by a screw 4 and clamp 5. (See Fig'. 4.)

The strop being previously wound around the barrel d, as the party Wishing to use the strop pulls on the end piece f the strop is unwound from off the barrel CZ and the spring c wound up, and the operator holds firmly to the end, stropping the razor; or the strop may be allowed to rest on a table while in use. If the end f were fiat and the strop merely stretched, the edges would operate more on the razor than the center. To obviate this I make the end f convex and insert a convex rest G within the mouth 3, so that by this means the center of the strop is elevated to make it take the razor evenly.

Vithin the mouth 3, I place a block or strip of soft metal '7, retained within the case by a screw. The metal which I prefer and use is the usual pewter composition.

It will be seen that as the strop is drawn out and pulled back bythe rotation of the barrel by the spring c the strop passing over this metal surface abrades the same and renovates the strop, keeping' it in order for use, and the strop being' rolled up into the barrel immediately that the end is let go of the surface is thus kept clean and free from dust and dirt.

It will be evident that a smaller case may be used with a less barrel and made in a circular form, so as to be portable and suitable for private use, while that shown herein is especially adapted for barbers.

I am aware that the spring-barrel has been used to roll up measuring-tapes and similar articles. Therefore I do not claim it alone; but I am not aware of its ever having been applied to wind up a strop for a razor, thereby inclosing' the same in a compact form within the case to preserve it from dust and dirt,

`and preparing the surface of the strop at the same time by passing' it beneath the metallic renovator each time it is drawn out or in.

Therefore I claiml. The metallic renovator, in combination with the spring-barrel d or its equivalent to operate on the strop e, as specified.

The convex end fand rest 6 to elevate the center of the strop, as -described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 17th day of January, 1853.

ALFRED F. CHATMAN. Witnesses LEMUEL W. SERRELL, CHARLES TENEELLENT. 

